I’m guessing that most of you at one point have had one of those chocolate-a-day advent calendars where you find the date, punch out the window, and enjoy a (usually highly mediocre) chocolate treat. (Ed. note - at least most of us found the date— others among us apparently just wildly open up the next window in sequence without even looking — you know who you are) Well, here’s a grown-up version of an advent calendar that’s much less tasty but certainly a lot more nourishing — providing daily reminders, music and more about what the Christmas season is really all about. Considering how it’s so easy to get sidetracked and distracted during the busyness of the Christmas season, a daily reminder about the peace we are celebrating this season seems like a particularly timely idea.
Where: 118 Victoria Street, Dundas (my new place -I hope to be moved in by then)
Why: Because I love scrapbooking
Details: I will be providing snacks and refreshments. Jenn (a Stampin’ Up demonstrator) will be showing us stamping techniques and giving us detailed instructions on how to make three different greeting cards. There will be a $15 fee to cover the cost of the materials to make the cards. If you can not make it to the party and would like to see a catalog of all of the wonderful stamp sets and supplies please let me know.
The Global Language Monitor has released its list of the Top 10 Most Politically (in)Correct words for 2005 — entertaining and horrifying all at the same time. Check it out here. My favourite has to be “thought shower” - that would be the new term to replace “brainstorming” so as not to offend those with epilepsy or other brain disorders. Nice.
It’s that time of year when we are subjected to people who, in a rush to be tolerant and inclusive, forget that inclusiveness and tolerance actually include celebrating Christian holidays - hence Pittsburgh’s “Happy Sparkle Days” festival in lieu of a Christmas celebration. This article gives a nice overview of some of the truly idiotic ideas some people have had to “replace” Christmas with something more “inclusive” as well as where the current battlelines are drawn. This is one issue that gets me really mad, so perhaps my enjoyment of this article comes principally from the mostly sarcastic writing style describing the “alternate” Christmas events — be warned!
This article builds on something that we have talked about during our small group discussions for the 40 Days of Mercy - our tendency to cocoon ourselves away from others and, not surprisingly, then have trouble identifying their needs. This goes beyond just avoiding your neighbours wherever you live — even when we are out in public and passing literally hundreds of people while walking to work, we now have our iPod and a pair of headphones to ensure we can successfully avoid any person whom we just might (horror of horrors!) have to talk to. This article deals with how the entitlement society we have developed (i.e. it’s OK to do whatever you have a right to do, regardless of any broader social responsibilities) is leading to a lack of consideration for others. My favourite quote: “This is an age of social autism, in which people just can’t see the value of imagining their impact on others”. Good food for thought stemming from the 40 Days of Mercy.
An interesting scholarly viewpoint on the one theory of the origin of life that makes sense to me as both a Christian and a scientist: how an intelligent designer (God) can use natural processes, including natural selection, as creative forces. The scientist is a Nobel laureate famous for his pioneering work with lasers — it’s interesting to see an increasingly large number of scientists with some serious scientific credentials express this opinion publicly.
I just wanted to post the website from which I got the diagrams and some of the information about the tabernacle that I used tonight at the prayer meeting. Everything about the tabernacle is amazingly rich in symbolism, applying to both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Particularly interesting, on the “Holy and the Most Holy” page, is the use of the tabernacle “gate” imagery to describe the different types of believers. Also I’d recommend reading Exodus 25-31 in which the commandment to build the tabernacle and all its specifications are described — based on all the details demanded of the tabernacle construction and all of the rituals which had to be done before the preist could (just once a year) enter directly into God’s presence, it makes what Jesus did for us in giving us direct and continuous access to the Most Holy Place all the more remarkable.
Interesting article from today’s newspaper — my first response was “that’s ridiculous and exploitative”, but after actually reading the article I am now less sure:
Here’s the founder of the Western Wall Prayer Service (interestingly, a North America-trained lawyer) defending her idea of cash-for-prayers:
“It is difficult to see so many (devoutly religious) people in Jerusalem really living hand to mouth, watching every dime. What they need most is material help,” she says. “At the same time, there are all sorts of people in North America who have so much in material wealth, but are in spiritual need. We’re trying to match those needs to each other.”
Although this is certainly a Judiasm-centred service, the article is, if nothing else, an interesting account of the empowering nature of prayer — whether it be truly God-driven answers to our requests or, on a very human level, just knowing that somebody else is petitioning God about our problems on our behalf. Indeed, it was the petitioning nature of this service which I found particularly interesting — not just praying for somebody once and a while when we think about it, but literally petitioning God, constantly and without fail for 40 days, about the worries, problems, and struggles of somebody else. Whether the Western Wall people have it right or not on the economic side of things, it’s interesting to think about how much more strongly we might be able to reflect God’s power and love to those around us if we petitioned God on their behalf — without asking for a “donation” in return. Now that’s a Ministry of Mercy.
Sometimes it’s hard for we as the younger generation to really wrap our minds around what war is like. While Canadians are obviously serving abroad right now in Afghanistan, Haiti, and elsewhere, there has never in our lifetime been what could be called a “global conflict” in which the whole country is mobilized and on guard, when people we know personally leave to fight and never come back. It’s particularly hard when you don’t have a grandfather, uncle, or some sort of relative who was there and can really bring the stories to life concerning how horrific war is and the extent of the sacrifice so many people made. So how can we then truly appreciate what Remembrance Day is all about? Although we may not truly understand war, this interesting article points out that, as Christians, we do understand the concept of sacrifice on the grandest scale ever witnessed — Christ’s ultimate example of laying down His life on our behalf. Our response to Christ’s sacrifice should be awe, gratitude, and remembrance (through our prayer, our worship, and our act of communion). While the sacrifice made by war veterans is obviously not on the same level, they have still poured themselves out under horrible circumstances to protect the freedoms and prosperity we enjoy today — a sacrifice which most certainly also deserves our gratitude and reflection on this Remembrance Day.
So it’s November, the work is piling up, exams are around the corner (or theses defence dates are creeping up in my case), the weather is getting colder, the days are getting shorter… sounds like a perfect time for some demotivation! I’m sure you’ve all seen those posters with an artistic picture, an inspirational word in large lettering at the bottom, and some kind of inspirational thought scripted below to help get you through the day. This site turns that concept on its head — it’s really funny stuff (at least I got a kick out of it… perhaps I have a twisted sense of humour though, consider yourself warned!) In the humour though is also embedded some really neat commentary on the “buzzwords” of our time and what we perceive as important and valuable as a society. One of my favourites: “Idiocy: Never Underestimate the Power of Stupid People in Large Groups”.
FYI - for all of those contemplating contacting the “Computer Support” people on our new oXyGEN Service Bank asking for computer help — make sure you’re not one of these people first…. PLEASE!!!!!….
- Todd
Customer: I’m trying to connect to the Internet with your CD, but it just doesn’t work. What am I doing wrong? Tech support: OK, you’ve got the CD in the CD drive, right? Customer: Yeah…. Tech support: And what sort of computer are you using? Customer: Computer? Oh no, I haven’t got a computer. It’s in the CD player and all I get is weird noises. Listen…..
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Tech support: What kind of computer do you have? Customer : A white one…
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Customer: Hi, good afternoon, this is Martha, I can’t print. Every time I try, it says ‘Can’t find printer’. I’ve even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can’t find it…
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Customer: I have problems printing in red… Tech support: Do you have a color printer? Customer: Aaaah………………..thank you.
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Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore. Tech support: Are you sure it’s plugged into the computer? Customer: No. I can’t get behind the computer. Tech support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back. Customer: OK Tech support: Did the keyboard come with you? Customer: Yes Tech support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in. Is there another keyboard? Customer: Yes, there’s another one here. Ah…that one does work
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Tech support: Your password is the small letter a as in apple, a capital letter V as in Victor, the number 7. Customer: Is that 7 in capital letters?
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Customer: I can’t get on the Internet. Tech support: Are you sure you used the right password? Customer: Yes, I’m sure. I saw my colleague do it. Tech support: Can you tell me what the password was? Customer: Five stars.
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Customer: I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears.
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Tech support: How may I help you? Customer: I’m writing my first e-mail. Tech support: OK, and what seems to be the problem? Customer: Well, I have the letter ‘a’ in the address, but how do I get the circle around it?
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A woman customer called the Canon help desk with a problem with her printer. Tech support: Are you running it under windows? Customer: “No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window, and his printer is working fine.”
Sometimes we as Christians have very fixed expectations regarding what it means to worship “properly” in a “Godly” manner (or, for that matter, serve in certain ways which are viewed as more “valuable” than others). As a more reserved kind of person, I am not likely to be dancing down the aisle during the service or preaching from the sidewalk any time soon, even though some people view those things as critically important expression of faith. On the other hand, some people can’t handle spending time by themselves in quiet reflection. Fortunately, I think it’s clear that there are many paths to experiencing God which are all equally valid and equally impactful according to our temperment and our spiritual giftedness. Martha led a large group session on these “Sacred Pathways” over a year ago — the quiz helping you identify the way(s) you best experience God is now online and can be found here. Take the quiz and comment on what your sacred pathways are (it might even help us in coming up with events or group activities which will help you worship God more effectively).
For the record, my top three are:
Intellectual: Intellectuals draw near to God through their minds. Contemplative: Contemplatives draw near to God through personal adoration and heartfelt devotion. Naturalist: Naturalists Draw near to God through nature.
(I am sure all of you who know me are all shocked by these results However, I should mention that “Enthusiast” was only a point behind, so there must be a wild celebratory aspect to my personality somewhere in there too…
Over the past month as we have been asking the question “What’s God Like?” in oXyGEN large group, it has been striking how diverse the various aspects of God’s character are and, specifically, how many of the attributes of God are essentially in tension (i.e. justice and mercy). I found this list relating each of the books of the Bible to revealing a major attribute of the Godhead on Glenn Teal’s blog (a great read on Christian living - check it out) — I think it is a really interesting way to trace how God’s character is revealed through the autobiography He has given us.
- Todd
In Genesis Christ is the Creator Exodus Christ is the Deliverer Leviticus Christ is the Law-giver revealing the righteousness of God Numbers Christ is the Passover Lamb — the blood sacrifice to satisfy Gods justice Deuteronomy Christ is the Covenant keeper the faithful one when we are not faithful
In Joshua and Judges Jesus is our Strong Deliverer protects and guides Ruth Jesus is our kind Relative Samuel/Kings/Chronicles Jesus is the ultimate King Ezra & Nehemiah (one long story) Jesus is the Great Rebuilder who puts things back together. Esther — Jesus is the Perfect Protector
In Job Christ is the ever-living Redeemer Psalms Christ is the Good Shepherd Proverbs & Ecclesiastes Christ is the Wisdom of the ages Song of Songs Jesus is the Lover of my Soul Isaiah Jesus is the Suffering Servant Jeremiah Christ is the Perfect Potter shaping and reshaping his people Lamentatians Christ is the One who hears our cry Ezekiel Christ is He who puts flesh on dry bones Daniel Christ shuts the Lions mouth Hosea and Joel and Amos Christ is the Perfectly Straight Line who shows us how crooked we are at times. Obadiah and Jonah and Micah and Nahum Christ is the God who always prefers repentance over revenge. Habbakkuk & Zephaniah and Haggai Christ is God who is mighty to save Zechariah and Malachi Christ is King of Zion Ruler over all
In Matthew — we see Jesus as the King of Kings Messiah of the Jews Mark — we see Jesus as the Great I am God in the Flesh Luke — Jesus is the Son of Man Friend of sinners John — Jesus is the Light of the World The Word made Flesh Acts — Jesus is the Ascended Son of God Empowerer of the Church
In Romans Jesus is the Righteousness of God 1 & 2 Corinthians Jesus is Pure Love the most excellent way Galatians Jesus is Source of Freedom sets us truly free Ephesians Jesus is the Life Giver makes us alive in God Philippians Jesus is the Joy-giver rejoice in all circumstances Colossians Jesus is the Exact Image of the Invisible God 1 & 2 Thessalonians Jesus is the Coming one surprise us when he comes 1 & 2 Timothy — Jesus is the Well-trained Athlete who helps us fight to the very end Titus & Philemon Jesus is the Head of the Church who keeps us together makes sure we win! Hebrews Jesus is the Great High Priest who paid the perfect price for his people In James Jesus is our Practical Older Bother who keeps it real In 1 & 2 Peter Jesus is the Holy One of God In 1,2 & 3 John and Jude Jesus is the Living Word In Revelation — Jesus is the Alpha and Omega first and last The Author and the Finisher of our Faith
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Well, 
